While there are many definitions of sustainability, the U.S. EPA defines sustainability as creating and maintaining conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations.

To help achieve sustainable communities, ARB is focusing on built environment research that can help California reduce our greenhouse gases and air pollution, while helping our cities adapt to the impacts of climate change.
By focusing on how we plan, build, and interact with our built environment, we can:

ARB’s Sustainable Communities efforts focus on land use and transportation planning, green buildings, and cool communities and evaluate the potential within these areas to reduce GHG emissions, air pollutants, and the urban heat island effect.

Significant GHG emission reductions—as well as many other environmental and health benefits—can be achieved through sustainable construction, operation, and renovation of new and existing buildings. Read more.

Many strategies that alter our built environment can not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, but also help combat the heat island effect, including placing cool roofs on buildings, using more cool pavements in our transportation systems, and maintaining and growing urban forests. Read More.